The nation’s brightest young wordsmiths locked horns in the National Inter College Crossword Expedition (NICE) 2025 Grand Finale, culminating in a spectacular display of wit, vocabulary, and mental agility. Over two action-packed days, 23 teams from across India IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Madras, St Stephen's College, JNU, LNCT etc battled through multiple rigorous stages – written preliminaries, the challenging EXTRA-C round, four thrilling quarter-finals, two nail-biting semi-finals, and the grand finale – to claim crossword supremacy.

When the dust settled, the crown belonged to Pranika Seenam and Seerat Kaur of IIT Delhi, who clinched the winner’s trophy, keeping IIT’s glorious streak alive for the fourth year in a row. Close on their heels were the formidable duo Ruchira Joshi and Chinmayi Pillamarapu from IIT Guwahati, followed by the dynamic team of Ananya Mishra and Yasaswy Mokkapati from SASTRA University, who secured the third spot.

The two-day intellectual extravaganza was graced by distinguished dignitaries from government, academia, and administration, each applauding the platform for fostering critical thinking, linguistic dexterity, and collaborative problem-solving among India’s youth.

Addressing the participants Sri Pankaj Mishra, IRS, Member, CBDT said, “Crosswords are not just puzzles; they are mental gyms that sharpen logic, memory, and creativity. Seeing our youth excel at this global level fills me with pride.” Dr. Vineet Joshi, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education also graced the event with his esteemed presence. Addressing the house he said, “This expedition is a reflection of the new educational ethos — nurturing not just knowledge but also analytical skills, communication, and confidence in our students.”

Sri Vivek Singh, Chairman, RERA Bihar & Chief Mentor, EXTRA-C, popularly hailed as the ‘Crossword Man of India’ highlighted that NICE is not merely a competition, it is a cultural movement that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and a vibrant community of problem-solvers. he said, "each edition reaffirms the rigour and prestige of this platform.”

Prof. (Dr.) T.G. Sitaram, Chairman, AICTE , one of the collaborator of NICE, said that AICTE is proud to support such initiatives where the brilliance of young India shines through. Crosswords are not just play, they are preparation for life’s toughest challenges. The session was opened by newly appointed Member Secretary of AICTE Smt. Shyama Rath. She said,

“Platforms like NICE inspire both students and teachers. The enthusiasm of the participants reflects the depth of talent in our country.”

Sri Babu Ram, IPS, DIG, CISF, Delhi Metro graced the event as the distinguished guest. In his speech he focused on how activities like crosswords help in mental fitness. He said, “Mental discipline, patience, and alertness are the qualities of a good crossword solver and these are the same virtues needed for leadership and nation-building.”

Sri Sharat Kumar Sinha, IPS, ACP, Delhi Police said, “These young champions remind us that intellect and teamwork go hand in hand. NICE is shaping leaders of tomorrow in the most unique way.” Sri Amit Dutta, Director, AICTE gave the vote of thanks and underlined that NICE blends knowledge with innovation. Watching students decode complex clues with such flair is truly inspiring.”

The journey of NICE 2025 begun in March this year, drawing mass registration from college students from across the country. The collaborative efforts of AICTE, Extra-C, IIT Madras and IIM Mumbai has successfully completed its four seasons.